A Knightly Tale

A Knightly Tale

An Old-English Inspired Story

            A knight on his brave young steed doth stand, him that hath vowed his abidance of the code called thus – chivalry. The knight that I spoke of thus, hath also bound himself toward service of the king. Wherefore when, by chance, the knight hath happened upon an unarmed foe, upon the road of which he traveleth, he doth not engage. For chivalry hath forbid it. All true knights abideth by this, noble men of courage never must betray its rules. Townspeople honor knights, for they are noble, strong, and they hath pledged to the good morals of their code, an honorable deed. The king hath rule of the knights of the realm, they that do his bidding. For these reasons, knights are revered throughout the land.

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          Sir Aldwyn, the knight of which I tell thee, he hath been the champion, for years aplenty, as no other hath taken him in combat. He rideth this day to his dwelling place, for ready he must be, to win this challenge, this tournament, for which he shall journey long and far toward the noble palace. Now a little of Sir Aldwyn I tell thee, his past to be precise. As a boy, only twelve years of age, Aldwyn twas a farmer. He worketh long and hard every day. Dreams had he, though, dreams of being a noble prince with sword that gleameth when the sun shone upon it, or being a heroic knight with a horse as strong as twenty men. Only, he hath no way of becoming those things, or possibly, a chance might present itself to him.

          On one average day he worketh from sunup till sundown, without time in it for dreams, playing and such. Excluding a single day on which to dream. That day hath come, the day of the birth of a great hero, the birth of Sir Aldwyn. On his day of birth, the young lad ventureth away from his cottage in which he liveth, to observe the knight’s tournament. Brave men of chivalry, as they were, gathereth upon the field of battle, for eager were the young knights, to show who was greatest among their ranks. Now I telleth of how it be, on the field of battle, at this great tournament. Sir Chadwick standeth over yonder, with air of confidence about him, for champion be he thrice. He waiteth for his chance to claim for himself the victory.

          Two knights, neither of which Sir Chadwick, readyeth themselves for a joust, in which two men try to knock off the other from upon his steed. Once they were ready they began the match. Horses chargeth, knights aimeth, each one’s eyes transfixed upon the other. The audience patiently waiting, and then...STRIKE! A knight was down, the other victorious. The crowd cheereth, a noise loud as a hundred galloping horses! Aldwyn, awestruck by the display of power and precision, decideth that day that he shall become a knight. However sure he be, though, twas not his decision.

          After the tournament, the victorious Sir Chadwick walketh toward the young Aldwyn. The lad calleth to the knight which walketh past. Chadwick whirleth round-about to face the boy. He asketh what of him he wanted. The exuberant lad asketh about the code, of which knights pledge themselves. Chadwick explaineth chivalry to him. Aldwyn thanketh Sir Chadwick, and on his way home he heareth pages discussing prize money. He joineth the conversation. The eldest page sayeth he shall use his wealth towards making, for himself, a suit of armor encrusted with fine jewels. The other boys were in agreement with him. One of them also suggesteth using the money for new swords, richly made. Aldwyn sayeth he would use his money to give to the poor and the church. The boys teaseth him about his generosity and sayeth that since he giveth all his money to the poor, he too shall become poor. Though the determined young Aldwyn did not change his decision.

          Sir Chadwick heareth the page’s taunts and wenteth over. He told Aldwyn to return to his home, and to meeteth him on the morrow. Then faceth he the pages. He scolded them for taunting Aldwyn. The next morn, Aldwyn went down the rough road to see Sir Chadwick. The knight congradulated him. Chadwick offereth Aldwyn to become his page. The boy was very grateful to him, and accepteth he the offer with joy. That is how Aldwyn began his journey toward knighthood.

Thanks:

I’d like to say thanks to everyone who helps me out with my writings, especially my Mom, as she does a bit of correcting and enhancing of my stories.